Handcuff.



G. A. WOOD. HANDOUFF.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1912.

1,056,079, Patented Mar. 18,1913.

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/ I I 5y W ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ALVIN WOOD, 0F ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

HANDCUFF.

My invention relates to handcuffs; and

consists in improvements by which I obtain first, a durable, quicklyactuated and effective handcufi' composed of but few parts, secondlyindependent and simplified lock collars connected by a single chainwhich can be formed and locked into one or more loops of Variabledimensions, and finally, a'

light flexible article which may be conveniently carried in hand orpocket, and other general features all more particularly describedhereinafter, with reference to thedrawings and pointed out in claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of thehandcufls embodying my improvements but showing one of thelocking-collars on a central section line as indicated by A A Fig. 2,with the chain shown as locked therein. Fig. 2 is a plan view of aportion of the chain and one of the locking-collars looking in directionof the arrow X in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of one of thecollar-locks with the chain removed and looking in direction indicatedby the arrow Y in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view of one of thecollar-locks with a section broken away as indicated by the dotted lineX X in Fig. 2, the section being central with the shorter or auxiliarylocking bolt shown in full, and showing a section of the key foroperating said bolt in position over it. Fig. 5 is a plan view completein detail of one of the lock-collars. Fig. 6 is a sectional viewcomplete in detail of one of the lock-collars on a central line of thelocking bolts as indicated by the line Y Y in Fig. 5, looking indirection of the arrow Z, the bolts being shown in position of havingthe collar locked but not showing the chain therewith. Fig. 7 is a likesectional view to Fig. 6 but showing the bolts changed into position ofbeing unlocked with the chain passage way clear through the collar. Fig.8 represents both an end and side view in detail of the main bolt whichintercepts and locks the chain with the collar, a screw is also shown inits position for holding said bolt from turning around while it may playfreely endwisc a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 26, 1912.

Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

Serial No. 717,229.

certain distance as regulated by the screw, and shoulders of said bolt.Fig. 9 represents both an end and side view in detail of the shorter orauxiliary locking bolt, showing also a ball which is stationed betweenand actuated by the bolts to alternately lock them with the interveningwall of the collar.

Referring to the drawings the reference numerals 1 1 represents two likelock-collars each provided with a hole 2 elliptic in outline, for thechain 3 to pass through them and on which both collars may slide ineither direction the full length of the chain connecting them that maybe free of its fastening to the said looks or collars. It will thus beseen that the locking-collars may be brought together and the whole ofthe chain remaining free formed and locked into one large loop, or asmall loop may be formed at one end of the chain and none at the other,or a loop may be formed and locked at each end of the chain varying insize as the locking-collars are slipped to ward or from each otherthereon. The said locking-collars are identical in construction having araised rib portion outside the collar portion in one end of which isprovided a slot 4 for the reception of the end link 5 of the chain,pivoting it on the pin 6 put across the slot and secured in theremaining outer walls of the rib. In the remaining portion of the saidraised rib adjoining where the chain is thus secured, in holes drilledtherefor, is inserted a locking bolt 7, and an auxiliary locking bolt 8,the looking bolt 7 being fitted to travel downwardly against the actionof a spring 9 into. the opening 2 in the collar through which the chaintravels, and thus locking the collar with the chain by the lower end ofthe bolt which is fitted to enter through the center opening of any oneof the chain links. The bolt 8 is shorter and not fitted to enter theopening 2 for the chain, but like bolt 7 is spring actuated outwardly,the springs 9 and 10 being seated individually underneath the bolts inthe bottom of the holes in which the bolts are fitted to play.

Each of the bolts 7 and 8 are provided with a circular groove 11 and 12respectively, and corresponding in depth to about one half the diameterof a ball 13 which is fitted to travel in a channel 14 made through theintervening wall 15 of the lock separating the bolts. The depth ofgroove in each bolt,

plus the thickness of the wall 15 between them, equals the diameter ofthe ball, thus it will be seen that at all times when the grooves of thebolts are not in line with each other, the one bolt receiving the ballin its groove will be locked with the wall 15, the ball being retainedby the body of the other bolt which has been pushed upward by itsspring, see Figs. 6 and 7.

To limit the bolt 7 in either direction of movement a screw plug 16 isput through the outer wall of the rib and fitted to engage the shoulders17 and 18 of the bolt, the flattened part of the bolt forming saidshoulders over which the screw travels also preventing the bolt fromturning around while moving back and forth.

The outer opening for the bolt 8 is completely closed so it cannot betampered with, and movement of said bolt is limited by the plug 19 whichis screwed in place over it and firmly held by .a cross pin 20 putthrough it and the outer wall, the lower end of said plug being cutpartly away permitting the pin to project within the diameter of theplug for the reception of a hollow key 21 over it, and to hold said keywhen turned to press down the bolt 8 so its groove will register withthe opening in the wall 15 and receive the ball from the groove of thelockbolt 7 as the spring of said bolt pushes it upward, see Fig. 7.

The hole through the dividing wall 15 for the ball is made by drillingthrough the outer wall as well as inner one after which said outer holeis securely closed by a plug 22 as indicated in Fig. 5.

Each of the chainlinks are twisted thus permitting the chain to fiat-tenor form itself broader in one direction than in the other, andcorrespondingly the hole 2 in the collars is made oblong or flat, thusforcing the chain as it goes through the collars to present itself"flatwise to the locking bolt 7 as represented in Fig. 1. This formationof the lockingcollars tends to shift the chain flatly about the memberof the person confined and the links being smoothly rounded they cannotpuncture or cause injury to such person like a chain havingrectangularly formed links.

Having thus fully described my improvements what I claim and wish tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a pair of handcuffs, in combination,two like lock-collars, a continuous chain running through the collarsand connecting them, movable bolts carried by the collars, a ball foralternately locking the bolts, whereby the collars are locked orunlocked with the chain.

2. In a pair of handcuffs a chain and locking-collars thereon, saidcollars having bolt receiving chambers, bolts fitted to reciprocate inthe chambers and a wall of the collar separating them, said wall havinga ball retaining channel through it opening into the chambers andlocated to register alternately with the ball retaining aperture in thebolts.

3. In a pair of chain handcufi s a lockingcollar having spring actuatedbolts and a ball fitted to alternately engage the bolts and lock themwith the collar and chain.

4. In a chain handcuif a lock-collar having a spring actuated lockingbolt suited to be pressed by the thumb or finger against the action ofits spring into engagement of the chain, a ball for engaging and lockingsaid bolt when so pressed, and means for actuating the ball.

5. In a pair of handcuffs, in combination, a chain, a locking-collarhaving a lock bolt suited to engage and lock the chain against theaction of a spring on said bolt, a locking ball suited to engage andlock said bolt, a secondary bolt incased within the collar and springactuated upwardly to engage and hold the ball locked, a key for pressingdown the secondary bolt whereby the ball is freed and the locking boltpermitted to be actuated by its spring to unlock the chain.

6. In a pair of handcuffs, like locking-collars, one secured to each endof a chain passing through them, said locking-collars having a lockingbolt fitted to enter the chain, with an aperture in it fitted toregister with a ball retaining aperture in the collar wall, means forforcing and holding a ball within the aperture whereby the bolt is,

made unmovable and the collar locked with the chain.

7. In a pair of handcuiis two like lock collars, one each secured to theend of a single continuous chain on which they may slide in theformation of loops of various dimensions at either end of the chain,said collars having a chain locking bolt and a ball for engaging andlocking said bolt with the chain.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE ALVIN WOOD.

lVitnesses WILLIAM ODEA, RAY L. BEARDSLEY.

Copies of this patent niay be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

